Warm and sunny, then clouds, cooling midweek

A streak of warm weather that made Orange County's temperatures the nation's highest over the past three days should continue into the middle of the week, the National Weather Service says.

By Wednesday, partly cloudy skies return and modest cooling kicks in as high-pressure air weakens and low pressure moves into the Pacific Northwest.

At the moment, high pressure over Northern California and the Great Basin is keeping temperatures up and driving gusty winds near the foothills.

Monday should be sunny and 77 to 82 inland, 71 to 76 on the coast, with mountain wind gusts as high as 30 mph in the morning.

Tuesday's forecast is about the same, though with coastal temperatures a couple of degrees higher and morning winds in the 15 mph range.

On Wednesday, a mostly sunny morning turns partly cloudy as inland highs ease into the 73-to-78 range, 72 on the coast.

Thursday also is partly cloudy and 71 to 77 inland, 66 to 71 on the coast.

A slight chance of rain enters the picture Friday under partly cloudy skies, with subtropical moisture possibly being drawn up from the south into Southern California.

Highs should be about 74 inland, 66 to 71 on the coast.

Saturday it's partly cloudy again and 63 to 68 inland, 63 at the beach.

A slight chance of rain continues into Saturday night, then Sunday is mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and highs of 59 to 64.

The Weather Service also posted a coastal flood statement through Monday afternoon, warning of wave sets as high as 6 feet along west-facing beaches in Orange County that could make swimming dangerous.

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